Propelling mechanism



Sept. 19, 1939. I A. D. HILL, JR 2,173,415

PROPELLING MECHANISM Filed March 31, 1938 PIE: 1

llllii INYENTUR HHT H HE E? HILL, JR-

HTTURNE5 Patented Sept. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES PROPELLING MECHANISM Arthur Dempsey Hill, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of one-half to Roland G. Hill, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 31,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in propelling mechanism and has particular reference to a propelling mechanism for a toy boat.

The principal object of this invention is to provide means for propelling a toy boat through the water with a minimum amount of power with a simple mechanism, and at the same time having the boat present the appearance common to boats.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my boat;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a modified form of my boat;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the propeller per se;

Figs. 5, 6, and '7 are similar views showing modified forms; and

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

The ordinary toy boat is propelled by a clock a Work propeller which is very ineificient and. re-

quires a large spring, which is hard to wind, if the boat is to run for any length of time.

I have, therefore, devised a simple mechanism whereby a small battery will operate an ordinary electromagnet buzzer mechanism for a considerable period of time, the clapper of which buzzer is extended so as to vibrate a propeller within the water.

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates the hull of the boat having cabin spaces, as shown at A and B. Within the cabin spaces I prefer to mount my mechanism which consists of a battery 6 and an electromagnet vibrator 1. This vibrator is connected to the battery in the customary manner, and a switch is shown at 8. The armature or clapper 9 is extended outside of the cabin B and bent downwardly to form a curved section II beneath the water line. A member I2 serves to hold the upper end of a flexible flap Hi.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 3, I have shown the same construction, with the exception that I provide two clappers so that I have two propellers Hi.

The result of this construction is that when the clapper vibrates back and forth, as indicated by arrows, the flexible portion 13 will belly first to one side and then to the other, as illustrated 1938, Serial No. 199,253

in Fig. 8, thus producing a vibrating or propulsive force. The pendulum spring action of the clapper makes possible the use of a comparatively small amount of power and saves energy.

The construction of the propellers shown in Figs. 5, 6, and. '7 is substantially the same in that they consist of a supporting rod and flexible members secured thereto. The rods will have a substantially sharp leading edge and the flexible members will have a thin tapering following edge.

The modified forms shown in Figs. 6 and 7 provide means for increasing or decreasing the amount of sag in the flexible member [3 so that the pendulum action may be governed at will. The amount of sagginess of the flexible member I3 is regulated by adjusting the length of the turnbuckle arm positioned above the support member pivoted to the clapper arm 9, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. In Fig. '7 extra pivoted support arms are provided to be used with larger propellers so as to provide a more sensitive action without undue strain upon the flexible portion of said propellers.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. For instance, my invention can be used with large boats as well as small and be adapted for use with airplanes and gliders, using a substantially similar type of propeller, although obviously designed to meet aerodynamic requirements.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Propelling means for moveable craft as described, comprising an oscillatable member, means to oscillate said member and a flexible member actuated by said oscillatable! member, said flexible member including a mounting structure having a sharp leading edge, and a thin trailing edge, said flexible member adapted to form a cup whereby to produce said propulsions.

2. Propelling means for moveable craft as described, comprising an oscillatable member, means to oscillate said member and a flexible member actuated by said oscillatable member, said flexible member including a mounting structure and auxiliary members adapted to support said flexible member, said flexible member adapthaving an unsecured trailing edge, and means for tensioning said flexible member in a vertical plane, whereby said unsecured trailing edge is free to cup when said downwardly extending portion is oscillated to produce a propelling 5 force.

ARTHUR DEMPSEY HILL, J R. 

